- May 1 Gwendolyn Brooks is 1st African American awarded the Pulitzer Prize for poetry
- May 1 Mayor of Brussels reluctantly bans May Day parade
- May 1 New marriage laws enforced in People's Republic of China
- May 1 Pulitzer prize awarded to Rodgers & Hammerstein for musical "South Pacific"
- May 1 WJIM (now WLNS) TV channel 6 in Lansing, MI (CBS) begins broadcasting
- May 2 Carlo Terron's "Giuditta" premieres in Milan
- May 2 Dutch 1st Chamber accept Laws on immigration
- May 2 Dutch PM Malan recognizes South-Africa but not People's Republic of China
Royal Coronation
May 5 Bhumibol Adulyadej crowned King Rama IX of Thailand in the Royal Palace in Bangkok
Bhumibol Adulyadej
Event of Interest
May 8 Chiang Kai-shek asks US for weapons
Chiang Kai-shek
- May 9 French Foreign Minister Robert Schuman calls for European community EGKS
- May 9 Norman Dello Joio's opera, The Triumph of St. Joan, premieres in Bronxville, New York
- May 10 1st Netherlands-US telex sent
- May 11 Belgium mine disaster at Borinage, 39 die
- May 11 Eugene Ionesco's first play "La Cantatrice Chauve" (The Bald Soprano ) premieres in Paris
- May 12 Darius Milhauds opera "Bolivar" premieres in Paris
- May 13 Diner's Club issues its 1st credit cards
- May 13 First ever race of the Formula 1 World Drivers Championship is run at Silverstone, England and won by Giuseppe Farina of italy in an Alfa Romeo
- May 14 Pitts Johnny Hopp goes 6 for 6 including 2 HRs
- May 18 "Liar" opens at Broadhurst Theater NYC for 12 performances
- May 18 Tommy Glaviano makes 3 consecutive errors on grounders
- May 19 NY Times reports of worlds smallest & dumbest mechanical brain
- May 20 75th Preakness: Eddie Arcaro aboard Hill Prince wins in 1:59.2
Event of Interest
May 21 Vietnamese troops of Ho Chi-Minh attack Cambodia
Ho Chi Minh
- May 22 Celal Bayar elected President of Turkey
- May 22 Dutch poet Gerrit Achterberg wins PC Hooft prize
- May 22 Richard Strauss' "4 Last Songs" (4 letzte Lieder) in London
- May 25 Brooklyn Battery Tunnel opens in NYC
- May 27 "Arms & the Girl" closes at 46th St Theater NYC after 134 performances
- May 27 Bollingen Prize for poetry awarded to Wallace Stevens
- May 29 3rd British Film and Television Awards (BAFTAS): "Bicycle Thieves" Best Film
- May 31 Indianapolis 500: Due to rain, race shortened to 345 miles, Johnny Parson wins
- May 31 Laker takes 14-12-2-8 in Test Cricket trial